Summer Black-Out, Day 3: POetry

There's a poem entitled "Warning," by Jenny Joseph, that I'm sure you've heard. It begins:

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.

(full text here)

I've always kind of disliked it.

For one thing, why should we "wear things that [don't] suit [us]" just because we're no longer young, or that being younger means dressing with sobriety?

For another thing, it has effectively devalued the wonderful analogous combination of red and purple, making it the province of middle-age women who do... what, exactly? I'm not entirely sure. As far as I'm concerned, you don't need a uniform to be uninhibited and have fun.

Red and purple look do "go," anyway. Beautifully.

Dress: BCBG Max Azria, TJMaxx

Cardigan: Design History, TJMaxx, remixed

Boots: United Nude "Pocket Hi," remixed

Sugar skull pendant, Jenn Feldman Glass, remixed

Although I didn't necessarily plan this outfit this way. Originally, I woke up to a chilly, rainy morning and wanted to wear my United Nude boots.

I don't really have words to describe how much I love these boots, even if their narrow shaft means I can't pull them over my calf. They've got straps and D-rings and pockets and little tags that say "Remove Before Flight," just like an airplane:

I decided I'd highlight those tags by pairing them with the red dress. Which was fine, until I spent five minutes in the outfit - brr! It was too chilly today for a short-sleeved dress!

I've worn these boots with a grey wrap cardi, but I didn't think it would work with this dress: the dress's sleeves are too full and the cardi's too thin and tight. So my only other non-black cardigan was this one. Red and purple are a bit vivid, but on such a grey day, vivid sounded good.

Purple crown compact, Papyrus, gift from my friend Emily

My beloved sugar skull necklace was the perfect highlight.

photos: Fabulous Husband

Do you ever wear colors that "don't go?"